Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Racino lawsuit dismissed; implications unclear

Between Editions: April 3

BY THE STAFF OF THE NEWS

ALBUQUERQUE - Attorneys agreed this week to dismiss a lawsuit filed last year that halted the selection process of a final racino license from the New Mexico Racing Commission.

According to a "stipulated motion to dismiss" filed Wednesday in the 2nd Judicial court, plaintiff and defense attorneys agreed to dismiss the pending suit on the grounds that "the parties have reached a mutually acceptable resolution to all of the claims presented in this case."

That filing did not specify what the terms were of the resolution, but a hearing on the motion is scheduled for Thursday morning.

Hidalgo Downs, LLC and other named plaintiffs associated with Lordsburg's racino bid filed the petition for injunctive relief in late November, stating concerns with alleged flaws in the feasibility study used in evaluating the five competing applications.

Attorneys representing NMRC said the decision on the state's sixth and final horse racing license, anticipated before the end of 2018, would be halted until that matter was resolved.

An NMRC spokesman did not immediately respond to messages Wednesday from The News as to how the pending dismissal would influence the new timeline for a racino award.

There are five applications in all, including three bids for horse racing and slot gaming destinations in Clovis and one in Tucumcari.

NMRC's next regular meeting is April 18 in Albuquerque.